ICE COOL Erling Haaland ramped up the Miami heat ahead of the World Cup quarter-final by declaring: England should definitely go through.
The Norway superstar, 25, has taken his maiden World Cup by storm with seven goals in just four matches, including both in the 2-1 last-16 win over Brazil.
Erling Haaland is feeling pumped ahead of facing England Credit: AFP
He ramped up the pressure on ‘favourites’ England Credit: Getty
He is in an as well as Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot.
And ahead of facing the country of his birth – dad Alf-Inge swapped Leeds for Manchester City in 2000 just weeks before Erling was born – Haaland did not shy away from admitting the Three Lions are expected to win.
Asked if the pressure is on England, replied deadpan: “Yeah.”
Then quizzed on whether can use that to their advantage, he added: “Definitely.
“I think everyone should stay humble, but, yeah, they should be confident of progressing, definitely.”
Haaland knows most of the English team from the Premier League – either trying, and often succeeding, to score against them or playing alongside his and Nico O’Reilly who are tasked with .
The goal machine said before the tournament started his country had just a 0.5 per cent chance of lifting the trophy at the MetLife on July 19.
How does he rate their chances now?
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Haaland continued: “Still really low.
“There’s some clear favourites out there, one of them, so I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads!
“It’s a special game and super special for me because I play in England and I was born in England, and I’m playing against team-mates. It’s fun.
“To be able to be here and play on the biggest stage with my Norwegian friends against the best teams in the world is really special.
“If you watch the scenes back home, this is not normal for Norway.
“To be honest, to be in quarter-finals with Norway in the , it’s quite surprising even for me.”
It has come as a big surprise to Wayne Rooney, too.
The former if Norway managed to beat Brazil and reach the last eight, in response to the Norse fans’ viral nautical celebration.
Haaland looks set to go up against several Man City pals including John Stones Credit: Getty
Norway have made the rowing celebration go viral Credit: Getty
Wayne Rooney promised to row down the River Mersey if Norway made the quarters Credit: BBC
Haaland called out Rooney and told him to deliver
Lo and behold, Haaland did his thing.
And the Man City hero relished calling out the Manchester United record goalscorer by posting a video teasing him.
Haaland beamed: “I’m looking forward to seeing Wayne, Wayney boy.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Wayne Rooney rowing down in Liverpool.
“That’s all I want to see now. Wayne Rooney, I expect you to go out on a rowing trip.”
Haaland was back on .
When they did, they were treated to a hilarious moving image of Norwegian Vikings rowing across the bottom of the screen.
Another Haaland masterclass in front of goal tomorrow and Rooney and England fans might be sick of the sight of it very soon indeed.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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